Gas-producing apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 20', 1907 J. N. WHITMAN. GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS.

' APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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wN IWN W/ TNESSES:

No. 863,817. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

" J. NAWHITMAN.

GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 1,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. WHITMAN. OF PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-PRODUCING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed September 1,1906. Serial No. 332,897.

Producing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a gas producing apparatus designed primarily to regulate the fuel feed, the ash removal, and the gas production to the demand for the product, it being a leading obj eet to meet the need in gas engines, lighting and heating plants for a steady supply of gas automatically regulated to the requirements of the apparatus supplied.

To these ends the apparatus comprises a closed chamber for the combustion of fuel and jacketed to permit the circulation of water around it so as to regu late the temperature and prevent loss of heat, and mechanism for feeding fuel and withdrawing ashes continuously at a'regulated rate varying with the sppply of gas demanded. V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic' representationoi my invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the ash-hopper and water-seal of the producer at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 'is a vertical sectional view through the ash-hopper and water seal of a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, the combustion chamber 1 of the producer is formed by the shell 2, terminating in the shell 3, forming the ash holder which are incloscd by the shell 4, so as to produce the chamber 5 surrounding the chamber 1. and a passage 7 leads from the chamber 5, whereby the circulation of water may be maintained at a ternperature such as to prevent the loss of heat and act toward maintaining the desired temperature in the chamber. A passage 8 leads from the otherwise closed top of the chamber 1 to the bottom of the scrubbing or purifying chamber 9 and a branch passage 10 leads to the atmosphere, the passages being controller by the two-way valve 11. From the top of the chamber 9, a passage 12 leads to the gas holder 13, which is connected by the passage 14 with the engine or apparatus in which the'gas is utilized. A blower 15 is placed .in the passage 12 to provide the necessary exhaust for A passage 6 leads to I be delivered under the dome 17, the passage being controlled by a relief valve 18 opening when subject to sufficient pressure from the gas in the holder.

Extending through the lower part of the producer body is a duct 19 having the opening 20 centrally disposed with reference to the chamber 1 and thehoppers 21 exterior to the body. In the duct are the rams 22 and the pistons 23, respectively connected by the rods 24, the rams being-'reciprocated by the pistons, which are operated under control of the valves 25 for admitting steam or air to the chambers 26, at the ends of the duct in which the pistons work. The air or steam for the opi eration of the mechanism is supplied through the passage 27 having the branches 28 which communicate with the respective valves. The passage 27 is controlled by a valve 29 connected through the arm 30, the link 31 and the lever 32 fulcrumed on the strut 33 with the diaphragm 34, the latter acting under pressure communicated from the holder 13 by way of the diaphragm chamber 35 connected therewith. I

Exterior to the base of the producer are the sprocketwheels 36, which carry the belt 37 having thereon the scrapers 38 traveling under the dome 17 by which ashes are removed from the hopper 3 and the sealing pit 39 beneath it. A shaft 40, on which one of the wheels 36 is fixed, has a beveled gear 41 thereon, which is driven by abeveled gear 42 fixed to a ratchet-wheel 43. The ratchet-wheel is engaged and operated in one direction by the pawl 44, connected to a lever 45 which is fulcrumed on the strut 46, the lever being connected to the piston stem 47, whereby the rams 22 for feeding the coal and the scrapers 38 for removing the ashes are operated together by the connecting mechanism. 'As the operation oi fuel feeding mechanism and the ash removing mechanism are under control of the valve 29, the'position of which depends upon the pressure in the gas holder 13, or otherwise the rate at which the gas is being withdrawn therefrom, the rate of feeding, removing ash and producing gas will be both continuous and variable with the consumption of gas. When the consumption of gas is stopped the valve 29 is closed and the valve 18 is opened, by the increased pressure in the gas holder 13, upon which the gas may flow through the passage 16 to theash pit 3, through the combustion chamber 1, the passage 8, chamber 9, and passage 12, by which an open' or relief circuit is provided.

It will be understood that the details of construction may be modified, as in Fig. 3 for example, in which 0ppositely pitched screws 48 revolved by a'shaft 49 and a chain 50 connecting the wheels 51 and 52 on these shafts are substituted for the ram mechanism of Fig. 1.

Having described my invention. I claim 1. A gas producing apparatus comprising a combustion where gas which may fiow through this passage may chamber, mechanism fOl feeding solid fuel into the com bustion chamber, and mechanism whereby the pressure of the gas produced controls the rate of feeding fuel.-

2. A gas producing apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, connected mechanisms for feeding solid fuel to said combustion chamber and withdrawing ashes therefrom, a gas holder, a passage leading from said combustion chamber to said gas'holder and a second passage leading from said holder back to said chamber.

i 3. A gas producer comprising a combustion chamber, means for feeding fuel to said chamber, fluid pressure mechanism for operating said feeding mechanism, a gas holder connected with said combustion chamber, and

mechanism whereby the gas pressure in said holder con-J trols said fluid pressure mechanism.

4.A gas producing apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, active mechanism for feeding solid fuel to said I chamber, and mechanism under control of the pressure of the gas produced in said combustion chamber for regulatir g the rate of operating said fuel feeding mechanism.

A gas producing apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, mechanism for feeding fuel thereto, a gas holder, a passage leading from the top of said combustion chamber to said gas holder, :1 further passage leadingfrom said gas holder to said combustion chamber, an automatically operating valve for controlling said last named passage andmechanism controlled by the pressure of the gas for regulating the rate of the feeding mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 31st day of August 1906, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JAMES N. WHITMAN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT JAMES EARLEY, JAS. G. DENNY, Jr. 

